Find Your Daily Voice
50°
Tag: Westchester Medical Center Health Network
Deck The Halls With Care: WMC Explains How To Holiday Responsibly
“Excess alcohol consumption is the third-leading preventable cause of death in this country, causing 85,000 deaths a year,” said Dr. Gail Bailey-Wallace, medical director of the Kyle Goldberg Turning Point Program at MidHudson Regional Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. “To avoid driving home drunk, pace yourself at parties: sip as opposed to guzzling and pair your alcohol with high-protein food, like cheese, to slow absorption.”
Bailey-Wallace recommends no more than one to two drinks during the night, pointing out that 12 fluid ounces of beer, 5 fluid ounc…
Can Eating Too Much Sugar Cause Diabetes?
"No, that’s a myth — and so is the misconception that people with diabetes can 'never' eat sweets or traditional foods they enjoy,” said Donna Gibbons, diabetes program manager at Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network.
A wiser strategy, she said, is assessing Type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk factors: being overweight, physically inactive, over 45 or the sibling of someone with diabetes. “Often people at risk of developing diabetes think if they feel okay, they’re okay, but T2D is very insidious and subtle,” said Gibbons. “You might feel sleepy af…
WMC Explains How To Treat -- And Avoid -- Head Lice
According to Dr. Maria Lombardi, pediatrician at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network, lice are highly contagious, and are spread from person to person (mostly children) via the direct contact of hair accessories, hats, pillows, bedding, and of course, heads.
To help prevent your child from contracting lice, encourage him or her to avoid sharing such items, and children with long hair are advised to tie it back.
“If a child has been exposed to lice, he or she should be checked for both live lice and eggs, also known as nits," said Lomb…
WMC Explains How To Maximize Your Visit To The Pharmacy Aisle
From aspirin to allergy medicine, navigating the aisles of a drugstore can seem like a complicated task. However, with a little forehand knowledge and some basic symptoms, finding the right solution for an illness doesn't always require a trip to a doctor.
In drugstore aisles, over-the-counter medications are organized by symptoms. To find the right match, think about cause. “When you see your symptoms on the front of the box, flip it over to see the active ingredients,” said Steven Seeberger, RPH, director of pharmacy services at Good Samaritan Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical …
WMC Helps Tappan Teen Recover From Near-Tragic Bike Ride
Riding her bike to school one day, Jordan Duffy experienced an accident that would change her life forever. Not wearing a helmet, she and a friend pulled out of her family's driveway and began to pedal away. Suddenly, an approaching car veered towards the teens, causing her to collide head-on, flip head over heels and land on her head.
A neighbor witnessed the impact and the seizure that followed, and called 911. Other neighbors ran over to help. “It was surreal,” said Jordan’s dad, Matthew. “She was out of it. Moving, but not moaning. Rubbing her head, but not speaking.”
An ambulance whisk…
With Temperatures Rising, Here's How To Beat Heat Stroke
According to Dr. Steven Beenstock, family medicine physician at Bon Secours Medical Group, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), when the heat index rises above 90°F, so does the risk for heatstroke.
Heatstroke is the medical emergency that occurs when your core temperature rises above 104°F due to exposure to elevated temperatures. “Someone suffering from heatstroke will feel hot, with red, dry skin and shallow breathing," said Beenstock. "There will be neurologic symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, muscle weakness and nausea.”
If you suspect …
In The Face Of Sorrow, One Family Rallies Around Mother's Disorder
A healthy mother of three teen boys, Sandra Nunez was eagerly anticipating her fourth child in April 2017. However, tragedy struck when she unexpectedly suffered a miscarriage in her second trimester. Over the following months, she searched for an answer to what went wrong, before finding an unexpected cause.
She spent the night of the miscarriage at a local hospital. Her blood pressure was high, but doctors identified no other health issues. In August, though, she developed headaches. She started seeing a neurologist, who gave her medicine for migraines, “but they didn’t help at all,” she s…
